The Program
Youth in Expression (
Programa Jovem de Expressão) was created in 2007 by the
Grupo Caixa Seguros (a Brazilian private company) with an objective to promote the healthy lifestyle of the young Brazilians in age of 18-29 years, as well as to reduce their exposition to violence. The Program has been implemented in two satellite-cities of the Federal District - in Ceilândia, by the non-governmental organization
Central Única das Favelas - CUFA-DF, and in Sobradinho II, by the cultural group Azulim.

The Program has developed its own technology, validated by the Pan-American Health Organization (
PAHO) - a regional office of the World Health Organization. The technology includes various activities related to art, culture and communication, as well as a communitarian therapy, and it is based on two elements:

Youth Expression (Expressão Jovem) that incentivizes youth to participate in cultural workshops and communitarian communication courses, created with basis in entrepreneurship; and

Youth Talk (Fala Jovem) - a space where the youngsters, the parents and other people exposed to violence talk about their fears, concerns and ideas for a better life in the community.

The Program has been recognized by the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (
UNODC) as a good practice for the prevention of violence among youth. Since August 2010, the Program has been coordinated by the UNODC, responsible for management of diverse activities promoted by the program, as well as for the inclusion of components of prevention to violence, HIV/AIDS and drug abuse.

In 2011, the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (
UNESCO) became the Program´s partner.

Furthermore, the Youth in Expression represents a successful example of a partnership between private sector, civil society and the United Nations System.

If you want to know more about the social technology of the Youth in Expression, visit this
website in Portuguese.